Chardon City Council soon will consider citizen requests to further restrict smoking on public property.

State law — since 2006 — already prohibits indoor smoking, with a few exceptions. However, recent complaints from residents and business owners prompted Council’s Legislative Committee to mull a more extensive policy at an Aug. 31 meeting.

“They object to the depositing of cigarette butts on the street and secondhand smoke at times entering the buildings on Main Street when doors (and) windows are open,” said Chris Grau, committee chairman.

Committee member Dave Lelko reported that a resident also complained about smoking on the city square during events that attract crowds, such as Friday night concerts.

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Law Director James M. Gillette advised the panel of the options.

“The Ohio Revised Code allows property owners to declare an outdoor area to be a nonsmoking place, so what we discussed is whether the city would consider certain areas owned by the city — such as the square, Mel Harder Park and possibly even areas outside what the city owns — as nonsmoking places,” he said, adding that the municipal pool already is a nonsmoking site.

It would require a vote of council, which could:

• Pass a resolution to notify the Ohio Department of Health of areas to be designated nonsmoking

• Adopt an ordinance designating certain areas nonsmoking, making it a criminal offense and requiring enforcement by the police department

In either case, signs would be posted alerting the public to the change.

The latter avenue likely would involve making it a minor misdemeanor, which comes with a maximum penalty of a $150 fine, or the city could make it an “unclassified” misdemeanor with a specified smaller fine amount, Gillette said.

He noted other Ohio communities with such a ban, including Oberlin and Strongsville.

The committee intends to broach the subject at the next regular council meeting — Sept. 8 — to get other members’ opinions.

In other business, the Committee recommended the following administration proposals to Council:

• Amending the rules regarding lawn maintenance violations. This legislation would provide for one notification per year to violators of the ordinance that requires grass to be no more than 6 inches tall. Currently, the city must give a notice for each violation. The city would continue to cut grass not maintained by the owner and place it on the owner’s tax bill.

“This would declare the grass a continuing nuisance every time it’s is higher than 6 inches,” Gillette said.

• Amending the ordinance prohibiting parking on lawns and treelawns. This would give police the authority to issue citations.

“I’m pleased that we’re considering these changes that will help residents protect the values of the property,” Grau said. “The majority of property owners in our residential neighborhoods adhere to our current policies regarding lawn care and the parking of vehicles in designated areas, not on lawns.

“If Council approves these changes, it will provide better and more timely enforcement of our ordinances.”